Most polls show the race for the oval office within the margin of error.  Stunning considering the economic mess our friends to South are in. What’s more staggering is the incumbent may perform the greatest slight of hand trick ever known to man. To be reelected based on today’s economic data would be Houdini like, straight jacket and  all.

For all intent and purposes the presidential election campaign begins post labour day weekend.  Up to this point all the primaries and conventions have been but a mere warm up.  From here on both parties will resort and say to whatever it takes to win.  The nastiness will begin in earnest, and for the president it’s imperative that the focus is diverted away from the facts.  The fact is that unemployment rate in the U.S has been understated for some time now.  The latest numbers has the U.S. unemployment rate at 8.1%, down from 8.2%.  The decrease is a function of people who have stopped looking for work, and no longer count.  Over 60% of people in the U.S. now believe their children will not be better off than they are.  Over 50% of people believe the economy is getting worse.  The latest job figures came in less than what was expected, and yet according to a new poll by Reuters, the president has actually widened his margin since the Democratic Convention.  Me thinks those who were polled must have all lived in Ontario at some point because that is the only explanation I can come up with for the bump in the polls for the president. Why let facts get in the way of a good story?

Like the millions of people outside of the U.S., I really wanted this president to succeed.  He represented change and his election was a signal to the world that race will not play a part in determining the leader of the free world.  But simply being cool is not enough to get elected.  Then again millions of Americans disagree, and to them I say, you deserve what you elect.

Until next time,

Cheers.